Lin Yuan briefly studied the Earth-Class Mid-Tier pupil technique or rather, secret art—that the two elders Qian and Bai had gifted to Qing Lin: Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil.
After finishing his examination, he could not help but feel a sense of admiration.
"The two elders Qian and Bai truly live up to their reputations as former Grand Elders of Jia Nan Academy and its current guardians. The items they give away are indeed extraordinary, and this one is exceptionally well-suited to Qing Lin, who possesses the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil was an Earth-Class Mid-Tier Dou Technique created several hundred years ago by another possessor of a rare pupil—Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Pupil, the renowned expert known as the Phantasmal Venerable.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were universally acknowledged as the number one extraordinary pupil under the heavens. However, aside from it, there were still other extraordinary pupils that existed on the continent. Though none were as mysterious or powerful as the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, each had its own unique strengths. The Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Pupil was one such extraordinary pupil, particularly formidable in illusion techniques and soul-based attacks.
The Phantasmal Venerable, who possessed the Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Pupil, was herself a legendary powerhouse. The Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil was her signature technique. Relying on this pupil art in conjunction with her Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Pupil, she had once defeated and slain a Dou Venerate one star above her level, and had even fought several Dou Venerates of the same level to a standstill, establishing her fearsome reputation.
Once cultivated to great completion, the Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil possessed terrifying power. However, its cultivation requirements were extremely harsh. To reach its highest realm, one not only needed profound cultivation but also formidable soul strength and an illusion-type extraordinary pupil.
As someone who had already created several Dou Techniques himself, Lin Yuan quickly grasped the Phantasmal Venerable's line of thought in creating this technique.
"It seems that when the Phantasmal Venerable created the Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil, she used her own abilities as the standard, without giving much consideration to the technique's general applicability."
This approach to creating techniques was something Lin Yuan understood well, because he himself possessed similar Dou Techniques. The Heavenly Flame Tribulation · Falling Sun Divine Arrow he had created was likewise tailored entirely to his own abilities, focusing solely on maximizing lethality through his personal strengths, with little regard for universality.
The pupil art or secret technique—Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Clarity True Pupil was divided into three realms:
Heavenly Eye: Enhances eyesight, strengthening the cultivator's perception and precise observation of various forms of energy, including heaven and earth energy, Dou Qi, and soul power. At great completion, it can even see through the flow of energy inside and outside an opponent's body, allowing one to judge their movements in advance.
Spiritual Clarity: Strengthens one's control over Dou Qi and soul power, enabling the cultivator to manipulate their strength more efficiently, achieving greater effects with the same amount of power.
Phantasmal Soul Slaughter Domain: Pulls the enemy's soul into an illusionary space where reality and illusion are indistinguishable and escape is extremely difficult, then uses interwoven real and illusory attacks to annihilate the enemy's soul.
"Fortunately, Qing'er's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can be considered a complete superior version of the Heavenly Phantasmal Spiritual Pupil. She should be able to cultivate this technique to its highest realm smoothly. Although it is only an Earth-Class Mid-Tier technique, in her hands, its effectiveness will likely be no weaker than an Earth-Class High-Tier Dou Technique. Perhaps this is what fate is."
"However, the requirements for Dou Qi cultivation and soul strength are extremely high, especially for the Phantasmal Soul Slaughter Domain. Qing'er will probably find it difficult to fully master it even at the Dou King or Dou Emperor level. It seems she should also cultivate the Black-class High-Tier pupil technique Phantom Pupil obtained from the Miter Clan. That way, her combat strength can be enhanced in the early stages, while also laying a foundation for cultivating the Phantasmal Soul Slaughter Domain later on."
With this thought, Lin Yuan formed a clear plan. He turned to Qing Lin beside him and smiled.
"Qing'er, I've already arranged your next stage of cultivation. Come, let's head to the Inner Academy."
As his words fell, Lin Yuan wrapped an arm around Qing Lin and flew toward the direction of the Inner Academy.
Holding Qing Lin, Lin Yuan flew over the dense forest behind the mountain, an area teeming with various magical beasts. When they arrived at a vast open clearing, Lin Yuan lightly waved his palm, and a surge of energy shot forth from his hand, striking the space ahead.
When this energy passed through a seemingly empty region of space, it stirred ripples like waves on water. These ripples rapidly spread outward, eventually condensed into a pale silver gate standing seven to eight zhang tall, appearing out of thin air before them.
Without hesitation, Lin Yuan passed through the gate, carrying Qing Lin as he flew onward, preparing to cross the vast forest and reach the Inner Academy's student area.
After flying for a short while, Lin Yuan suddenly sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching. He slightly turned his head, and a gentle warmth appeared in his eyes. Qing Lin noticed the change in him and followed his gaze curiously.
After a moment of thought, Lin Yuan descended slowly to the ground with Qing Lin. They stood quietly in an open area, waiting. In the distance, a streak of purple light tore across the sky. Within the light, a small girl with exquisitely delicate features was flying toward Lin Yuan at high speed. As she drew closer, the smile on Lin Yuan's face deepened.
Very soon, the little girl's figure became clear—it was Zi Yan. At this moment, her adorable face wore a mischievous smile. Upon seeing Lin Yuan, her eyes instantly turned "watery," and she spread her arms wide, shouting loudly.
"Brother Lin Yuan, I missed you so much!"
She then charged toward him like a small cannonball.
Lin Yuan also opened his arms, ready to welcome this long-awaited embrace. However, just as the two were about to meet, a sly glint flashed through Zi Yan's eyes. Instead of throwing herself into his arms as Lin Yuan expected, she suddenly threw a punch at him from a distance that seemed impossible to evade.
Qing Lin watched everything in shock. She had not expected Zi Yan to suddenly attack. Lin Yuan was also momentarily surprised, but his reaction was extremely swift. For his current self, avoiding such an attack would not have been difficult at all.
However, after a brief thought, Lin Yuan stopped his evasive movement.
'Forget it. It's been so long since we last met—this girl must be holding quite a bit of resentment. I'll just let her land a punch and vent it out.'
"Bang!"
A dull thud echoed as Lin Yuan, having given up dodging, was struck squarely by Zi Yan's punch and sent flying backward. He tumbled several times in midair before crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At the same time, Zi Yan's impatient and sly voice rang out, drifting through the dust cloud, filled with triumph.
"Hmph~! Stinky Lin Yuan, I hit you! According to our previous agreement, you have to take me with you the next time you go out. You're not allowed to leave me here alone anymore!"
A gust of wind swept out from within the dust cloud, dispersing it. Lin Yuan's figure reappeared before Zi Yan and Qing Lin. He patted the dust off his body. Although he had been hit by Zi Yan, his aura remained powerful, clearly indicating that Zi Yan had not used much strength.
"Agreement? What agreement?"
A trace of amusement flashed through Lin Yuan's eyes as he deliberately pretended not to know.
"Huh? You forgot the agreement?" Zi Yan ran up to Lin Yuan, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness. "It was—"
"It was 'when I come back next time, if you can hit me once, I'll take you out with me, how about that?'—that agreement, right? Haha, little girl."
Lin Yuan chuckled lightly as he pinched Zi Yan's delicate little cheek with his right hand.
"Pa!"
Zi Yan slapped Lin Yuan's hand away, rubbed her cheek, and glared at him with puffed cheeks.
"Hmph~"
"Didn't you say you wanted to defeat me?" Lin Yuan said with a smile, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Hmph, that doesn't count. It still counts as long as I hit you once after that, you have to take me with you whenever you go out," Zi Yan insisted. After all, from the moment Su Qian told her yesterday that Lin Yuan had returned and informed her of his current cultivation, she already knew that she was no match for Lin Yuan for the time being.
"Alright, alright, alright."
Lin Yuan looked at Zi Yan indulgently and gently pressed his hand against her small head.
The two exchanged smiles, and the slight sense of unfamiliarity that had lingered from their year-long separation quietly dissipated amid their laughter.
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